Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1887-11-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
iFrom Our Regular Correspondent
WAsHfNGTON. Nov. 12 1SS

WAsHrNGTON. Nov. l2, 1887.
! In no city OF the United States was
there more general and profound in
terest in the results of the elections
than in Washington, for here are tenn
porarily domiciled representatives OF
every state and territory in the Union,
AS u general thing their tenure of
place being in a large measure depen-
dent upon the changing fortunes of
politics.
Realizing the force of this truth, your
correspondent, on last Tuesday night,
rolled out on Pennsylvania avenue,
and joined a throng of over one thon-
sand men. who were solidly massed in
font of the Daily Post building, where
the election returns were being dis
played in an upper story window by
means OF stereopticon. The crowd
was as good humored as it was large
and was perfectly orderly; as the news
was blazoned forth there were repub-
llcan cheers and democratic cheers
quickly following each other.
At the White house, President Cleve-
land had a special wire, and soon after
the New York figures began to flash
forth, the Chief Magistrates face was
wreathed in a "smile that was child.
like and bland" and when he retired
to rest for the night, he doubtless had
bright visions OF second term in the
historic mansion.
Ii is less than a month now till the
meeting of Congress, and the popular
interest is focused upon the probable
course of that body, in regard to
economic questions-more especially
the tariff, which over-shadows ail |
Others. believe there will be a sub
stantial reduction, both in custom
duties and internal revenue taxation. |
Tor unless both are reduced, neither is |
likely to be, as such legislation will
probably be in the nature of a com |
promise. That the present tariff
should be re-adjusted is the opinion
of tie brightest statesmen of both |
lharties-the only question being the
desired method.
otherimportant matters that will en-
gage etheattentiOn of our national law
makers. will be the proposition to
change the term for which congressman
are elected, and also tochange he time
ot meeting of Congress from the first
Monday IN December to some time i'm
J:tnuary: Under the pressnt slsicm
Oh congressional service--that is, MEM
beers Of the House of Representatives
they are elected thirteen months
before taking their seats. Thus IA
members successor is elected before
'ncumbent's term is half out. This
plan also tends to DESTROY
our theory OF popular representation,
winch rs the ecOrner-st one of true repub-
i'can government, for Il congressman.
who reflected the wishes of his constit-
'lents thirteen months ago, may have
drifted away from their views upon
vital questions by the present time.
Evidently there is need OF real re-
form, here, and it is to he hoped that
u result so greatly desired may be
secured by the Fiftieth Congress and
be applied to the Fifty-First.
The election OF then President of
he United states may have possibly
been decided in little Rhode Island
last Tuesday, as the vacancy filled in
It's congressional delegation by the
election OF IA republican would enable
he party to control u majority of the
states and elect their candidate for
president, in case the election should ,
De thrown into the House OF Rep
'esentatives as it was in 1924. when
'ohn Quincy Adams was chosen.
u credence can be given to "a com
received in this city a few
lays since from the captain of u
steamer sailing the Mexican gulf, the !
treat collection of scientific treasures
,f the National museum is to be Ell /,
iched by the addition of the head of !
veritable sea serpent, captured
liter a desperate and bloody struggle.
II which the ship came near being G
marine monster having 7.
'een decapitated after it WAS found J
to make other headway {
lgalnst this terror OF .'those who 90 /.
lOwn to the sea in ships ;
The annual report OF the Commis-
ioner on Internal Revenue, submit
ed to the Secretary OF the Treasury
".S WIEN, foHtalns some interesting
showing as it does, the a
Ondition OF our system of taxation. a
he total collections for fiscal year h
nded June 30, 1887, were 81 IL. .S2J,- h
'23, an increase of about two million y
ollars over the same period for $50. e
nd OF about four million dollars for Il
he year preceding. For he last fiscal Z
ear the receipts were SS2S. .523 in ex- 4
ess OF the estimates. As compared Il
18th last year there was decrease OF
wO and u half million gallons of
pirits in the quantity deposited i'm